Henry wegman



(No Model.) 7

- H. WEGMAN.

} REED ORGAN. No. 299,707 v Patented June 3, 1884:.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY WEGMAN, OF ITHAGA, NEWV YORK.

REED-ORGAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.299,707, dated June 3, 1884-. Application filed April 30, 1883. (No model.)

T0 at whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY WEGMAN, of Ithaca, in the county of Tompkins and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reed-Organs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in reedorgans, and more particularly to devices for controlling the openings of the reed-chambers thereof, the object being to produce devices of this character which shall fulfill the twofold function of softening the quality of sound produced when the mutes are open and of excluding dust and foreign substances from the reeds.

With these objects in view my invention consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will hereinafter be described, and pointed out in the claims.

The accompanying drawing represents avertical section of a double reed-board embodying my improvement.

A represents a double reed-board of ordinary construction, and having reeds 13 mon nted in it in the usual manner. Mutes or stopvalves 0, triangular in general contour, and attached by hinges D or equivalent means to the top of the reed-board, are arranged to close the openings of the cells in the reed-board in which the reeds are located.

The devices E for altering the quality of the tone, having pointed lower ends, are attached by hinges F or equivalent means to strips G, mounted upon the table H, the said devices E and strips being arranged parallel with the mutes aforesaid. The devices E are constantly engaged with the mutes by means of springs I, secured to the strips G, and having sliding bearing on the outer faces of said devices. In virtue of this arrangement, by which the devices E are constantly engaged with the mutes, whether the same be opened or closed, all dust and foreign matter is excludtion.

ed from the reeds When the mutes are closed, the devices E have an upright position, as shown at the left hand in the drawings, while when the mutes are open the devices E are deflected outwardly, as shown at the right hand in the drawing, aclosed chamber, J, being formed. The sound-waves excited by the reeds pass from the reed-cells to the said chamber,

wherein the volume of the sound is increased;

although it still remains soft and sonorous in quality.

I am aware that a strip or valvehas been placed on the reed-board in front of the reedcells, and adapted to come in contact with the edge of the mute valve, to qualify the reedtones and render them more pipe-like in quality, and hence I make no broad claim thereto.

I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my inven- Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a reed-organ, the combination, with a reed-board, of a mute, a device, E, hinged at its lower end, and a spring arranged to maintain the device E in constant engagement with the mute, substantially as set forth.

2. In a reed-organ, the combination, with a reed-board and reeds, of a mute, a device, E, hinged at its lower end to a strip arranged parallel with the mute, and a spring secured tosaid strip and arranged to maintain the de vice E in constant engagement with the mutes, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY WEGMAN.

Viitnesses:

J. H. HINTEIMISTER, J r., F. W. FIEEo. 

